Source AP

KAILUA, Hawaii — President Barack Obama abruptly ended his golf outing and sped in his motorcade to his compound today after he learned a child of a friend was injured while playing on the beach.

Members of the first family were fine, a White House official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of a reluctance to discuss personal matters involving the president.

When they returned to the secured neighborhood where Obama was staying, journalists saw an ambulance speed past with its lights on. The ambulance then left the neighborhood with a black sedan trailing.

The incident was initially described as a “personal matter” with no other details.

The president was playing golf with friends from Chicago who joined him on his holiday vacation. The White House is not identifying which friend’s child was injured.

After a brief delay, Obama returned to the course.

Several reports indicated that the injury occurred in a surfboarding accident and required stiches. On CNN, there were unconfirmed reports that the child who was injured sustained cuts on the chin.

The Washington Post and the New York Times are reporting that the injured child is the son of Dr. Eric Whitaker, a close friend of Obama who is an executive vice president of the University of Chicago Medical Center and the former Illinois state health director. The Times said that Obama had been playing at Luana Hills Country Club and that Whitaker had been playing with him.

Bartamaha News Desk.

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